Preview: Five talking points ahead of Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United

As Wanderers prepare to welcome Leeds United to Macron Stadium for their opening game of the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship campaign, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of Sunday's encounter.

1. New Season

After over three months, competitive football returns to Macron Stadium and it sees Wanderers back in the Sky Bet Championship!

Leeds are the first visitors to BL6 in the new campaign, with the Elland Road outfit making the short journey over the Pennines for Sunday's 4.30pm televised kick-off.

And with the world watching on, the Trotters have the perfect opportunity to make their mark from the outset this term.

2. New Faces

It's certainly been a busy week at Macron Stadium, with four new faces coming through the door since Monday.

There's been a trio of loan acquisitions in the form of Reece Burke, Josh Cullen and Antonee Robinson, while experienced frontman Aaron Wilbraham also agreed terms with the Whites.

Could the quartet make their bows in Sunday's opener? Only time will tell...

3. Bumper Crowd

Following on from impressive season ticket sales during the summer break, we're expecting a bumper crowd of over 20,000 inside Macron Stadium this Sunday.

Tickets are still available however to supporters with a previous booking history and can be purchased HERE.

4. Golden Gamble

Supporters attending Sunday's game will be in with a chance of winning one of ten prizes as part of our matchday Golden Gamble draw.

For just £1, everybody who purchases a ticket will be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes, including being entered into our new £100 per game rollover.

We would like to thank the following who have provided the Golden Gamble prizes: Frankie and Benny’s, Middlebrook; Vue Cinema, Middlebrook; Ask Italian, Middlebrook; Red Lion, Over Hulton; Hollywood Bowl, Middlebrook; Victoria and Albert, Horwich and Holland’s Pies.

5. Programmes & Pasties

For those who missed it earlier this week, the club confirmed that limited numbers of Carrs Pasties will be sold on the lower-tier concourses for games at Macron Stadium this season.

There's also the club's award-winning matchday programme available for just £3 for 84-pages of exclusive content.

Copies can be purchased both outside and in the concourses at Macron Stadium from various vendors.

Report: Bolton 1-2 Stoke City

Two late goals from substitute Joselu gave Stoke City a win over a battling Bolton Wanderers side who took the lead through a spectacular Adam Le Fondre effort.

It was a fine performance by the home side who more than held their own against the Premier League outfit in what was their final match of the pre-season ahead of next Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship opener against Leeds United.

The hosts took the lead just before the interval thanks to a spectacular strike from Le Fondre.

With just over a week to go until the start of their league campaign, manager Phil Parkinson fielded a strong looking XI as they took to the field against their Premier League opponents.

Darren Pratley captained the Wanderers with new signing Stephen Darby making his first appearance in front of the home supporters.

The visitors almost took the lead after five mins when Saido Berainho broke through but could only hit the foot of Mark Howard’s right hand post.

While at the other end, David Wheater headed narrowly wide after Josh Vela charged down the left and put in an accurate cross.

It was end to end stuff during the opening exchanges, and Howard was brought into the action once again when he made a fine save at close quarters to thwart the lively Berainho.

Wanderers were denied a penalty when Ryan Shawcross appeared to handle in his own area but the referee ignored their appeals.

Gary Madine then volleyed narrowed wide from distance after latching onto a huge punt from Hoard.

The visitors should have taken the lead when dangerman Berainho had only Howard to beat, but somehow wrong footed himself and lost possession which allowed Wanderers to clear their lines

Dorian Dervite, part of Wanderers' three-man backline, caught the eye to follow on from his strong finish at the end of last season and got in the way of an Allen drive to deflect the ball for a corner.

Pratley, industrious as always, forced Jack Butland into making a save at the foot of his post.

But Wanderers finally broke the deadlock with barely a minute remaining of the half thanks fo Le Fondre’s fantastic strike. The frontman fired over his own head from distance with the ball glancing the underside of the cross bar to leave Butland flummoxed.

As the second-hlaf got underway Shaqiri got more and more into the game and became integral to Stoke getting back into the contest.

As well as seeing his left-footed effort deflect for a corner, he thundered a free-kick against the cross bar as Stoke pressed for an equaliser.

The Swiss midfielder was causing plenty of problems for Wanderers who had Beevers to thank for a last ditch tacjke which saw another effort divert over the bar for a corner

Howard then made a great fingertipped save to keep out a Kourt Zouma drive from distance.

Sammy Ameobi and Adam Armstrong came on for Madine and Le Fondre with 20 mins to go and made an immediate impact.

Armstrong was unlucky not to get on end of Vela cross which to double his side’s lead.

Moments later and a stunning save from Butland denied Armstrong at close range after some impressive work by Vela and Ameobi on the right.

Joselu then opened his account – against the run of play –when his effort came in off the post.

And the striker notched his second and Stoke’s winner two minutes from time by poking home after Wanderers failed to clear their lines.

Tickets will be available on a cash-only basis from 2pm onwards, while prices for the match are as follows:

Adults - £10

Over 65s - £5

Under 18s - £5

Tickets currently remain available in person from Bolton Central, over the phone on 0844 871 2932 (option two then option one) or online via the club's eticketing website.

Please note, there will be no matchday bus service for Saturday's game but free parking is available to fans on Car Park C at Macron Stadium.

Show your support for Wanderers and don your colours! The Trotters' 2017/18 celebratory purple away shirt is now available to purchase online and in store from Bolton Central, while you can still pre-order the Whites' new home shirt to get your hands on it before anyone else ahead of its general release on Friday!

With less than two weeks to go until the start of the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship, there's still time to purchase a Bolton Wanderers season ticket and support the Whites this year at the best possible price! You could save up to 69% off the total cost compared to buying tickets on a match by match basis! Buy online now and back the Whites!

Watch Wanderers' new signings make their home debuts this summer with tickets for both the Whites' pre-season friendly against Stoke City and Sky Bet Championship opener against Leeds United on open sale!